Sunday 26 May 2013

Welcome Darcy Wilkinson #1 ....

"Hello and welcome to my first guest blogger post. Today I have a quick and simple project to get us started".

I was looking for some cork coasters, after searching my local stores I gave up and bought a pack of plain black ones from the supermarket. I planned to paint over the black coating, but as I pulled them from the packaging a little of the black coating came away. I am so glad this happened at this point, rather than after I had painted them. 

I peeled off the rest of the black, then lightly misted the white backing paper that was left behind with a little water and gently rubbed it with my fingers till I was left with 4 blank cork coasters.

I then gave each coaster a thin coat of PVA glue mixed with a little water, this was just to seal them. Now onto the decorating. I started with a few small blobs of paint randomly dotted onto the surface. Tinned Peas, Sky, Baltic Blue and Guacamole.

I took a metal scraper, you could just as easily use an old credit card, and scraped the colours in one smooth motion from top to bottom.

I turned the coaster around and scraped again from top to bottom.

I really liked how the shape of the blobs was left behind the stripes of the scraping.
Once the paint was dry I used Adirondack Colour Wash sprays through a couple of stencils.

I left these to dry and then I used a brayer to add a generous coat of Snowflake Fresco paint. It looks slightly pink, that is the dye colourwash ink from the previous layer pushing through.

Once the white layer was dry it was time to stamp. I sorted out 4 flower stamps from the following sets.
 HP 1009


HP1204


and 1 from Mini 68


I added them using Archival Ink (Jet Black). I also added some random dots using Mini 72

Now the fun part, make sure the black ink is completely dry, then take a damp baby wipe and start to rub back some of the layers. The harder you rub the more layers will come off so take it easy to start with. In some parts I rubbed right back to the brown of the original coaster.

Don't be afraid to rub away parts of your flowers, we are going for a shabby/worn away style here. The next thing that happened was a happy accident. I knew the inks would show through, what I didn't expect was that they would kind of bloom and rise quite dramatically to the surface. I really like the effect, it reminds me of old fashioned wallpaper. I left them to dry fully and then I gave each one 2 coats of gloss medium to seal them and add a shiny surface.

That's it all done, a set of shabby chic coasters, all you need now is a tea party to show them off.

Leandra Says: Ahhh, you got the cupcakes in there! How cool does the Wild Plum C/wash look! I remember I had once sprayed a canvas with lots of lettuce green/ denim blue colourwash on top of paints. Decided I didn't like it, and would start over. Tried to gesso/ white paint over the top, and it kept coming though...never thought to deliberately re-create this though!

Gillian Says: Love Love Love this idea Darcy, such a brilliant transformation. can I come for tea? x

To join in with our Guest Designer challenge this week, simply click HERE to upload/share your creativity.


35 comments:

Helen said...

wow these look fabulous Darcy! (and so do the cupcakes!) I must try and find some...

Jay said...

Great idea! store bought coasters are all the ugly same..brilliant.

Lin said...

wow Darcy these look fantastic..really shabby what a great technique...right need to go buy some coasters of th cork variety of course!!

Steven said...

Wow, these are fabby lush, love them. giving me ideas for the packets of cork I found in the junk shop!
Oh and can I come for tea too?
xxx

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow awesome coasters I am so loving the shabby chic look, yep me definitely thinks I need to have a go at this. Hugs Kezzy xxx :-)

Unknown said...

Darcy, they look fantastic!! I love what you did. xo

Alison xx said...

What a wonderful set of coasters !! As always love seeing you build up your artwork.
Congratulations on your guest designer job. A xx

Anonymous said...

They're gorgeous!! And I happen to have two coasters sitting on my craft table, just waiting to be altered.....

Unknown said...

Fab project Darcy! I've got some coasters that I've been meaning to do for my coffee table. Thanks for the inspiration!

Unknown said...

Love them, I was pondering getting some coaster to do. Will be hitting the £ shop this week lol

Carol Q said...

great techniques Darcy. if your first week's anything like mine - you'll be having a great time!

ionabunny said...

Very nice. Here's to happy accidents

ionabunny said...

Very nice. Here's to happy accidents

Trish said...

Oh, they are gorgeous! I love the effect, and such fun techniques.

yoursartfully said...

Fab project Darcy, Genius way of adding the first layer of paint. I'm with you, I love how you can still see where the dots of paint were!!
And seeing those gorgeous cakes reminded me of the ones I missed out on lol!!!!
Looking forward to the next project. I'm off on hols tomorrow, I hope the WiFi connection is good, I don't want to miss out.
Lin

SQ54 said...

Very beautiful. Just saw cork coasters yesterday at Ikea if someone wants them for a very reasonable price.

Rebecca said...

So cool, welcome
Happy craftin
Rebecca

sam21ski said...

Wow Darcy, am lovin' your new set of coasters

Sam xxx

Gina said...

Oh wow Darcy!!! Love this look! I was always freaky as a child, and would spend hours staring at derelict houses because of the tattered shreds of wallpaper on the old plaster :D XXX

Maz said...

Wow Darcy, these are fabulous. Such a good idea, off to look for coasters.... x

The Hardy Stamper said...

What a great idea! I love how the first layer of paint looks and would happily stop there and stamp!

DarcieGlam said...

Love them Darcy! Great technique for lots of things. The coasters came out fantastic!

vicky rafael said...

WoOoooow Darcy, they are freaking awesome
Like them very much <3

Alison said...

Gorgeous coasters & cakes Darcy! Off to search for old coasters to alter! ;o)
Alison xxx

craftimamma said...

I have loads of old coasters I've picked up for pennies from charity shops just waiting for a bit of this kind of TLC! Fabulous first post Darcy. Looking forward to the next one.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Michelle Webb said...

Brilliant Darcy, those coasters look so old and vintagy. Such a great technique, I can't wait for this weeks makes! Fab start to your week. Love the staging too, you can't have eaten all those cupcakes yourself!
Michelle x

Anonymous said...

Fabulous costers Darcy ! Love the shabby effect and great colours. Sue C x

joyce rodli said...

YAY darcy, way-2-go.

TAM said...

Utterly fabulous

Words and Pictures said...

Such fabulous painty, inky layers - beautiful first project, Darcy!
Alison x

Dana said...

So beautiful!! The techniques are awesome and I adore all of the stamps! I can't wait to make up some sets of these for those last minute gifts!

Linda M. Cain said...

How perfect!!! Would love to come for tea!!!!

~Linda

Janet said...

Fabulous coasters Darcy
Janet x

Gina said...

Darcy, you did a fabulous job!!!!!! Awesome work and I can't wait to see the rest!!!!

Giggles said...

Gorgeous!! I imagine you could upcyle old coasters this way too...maybe with a coat of gesso over the old layer? These are awesome!!

Hugs Giggles

I may have to try my own!!